MOUNT VERNON — County recycling director Linda Montgomery has received many calls from organizations interested in participating in the county’s first adopt-a-roadway litter pickup. Some have asked if this only applies to certain roads in the county.
“Litter is litter,” Montgomery said. “It is detrimental to all the roads and bike paths in the county, so we don’t care which road people adopt, as long as they pick up the litter there.”
All roads, including state highways, are eligible for adoption. The program will award a stipend of $3 per bag of litter collected from Knox County roadsides by registered organizations between April 20 and April 30. Authorized disposal at Action Waste, 80 Pittsburgh Ave. in Mount Vernon, will be required to complete the program. The costs for the program will be covered by the generation fees being charged for garbage dumping through the DKMM Solid Waste District, in which Knox partners with Morrow, Marion and Delaware counties.
Any organization interested in participating should call Linda Montgomery at the Knox County Commissioners’ Office at 393-6704 to register and identify the roadway(s) being targeted. Basic necessary supplies for a successful cleanup, including bright safety vests, gloves, litter bags and a first aid kit will be provided to registered groups.
Interested parties will fill out a “roadway adoption” form and standard release forms, and a summary report and disposal permit will be prepared to be picked up prior to starting the litter collection project. Organizations unable to transport the filled litter bags to Action Waste or that are interested in participating but need a different collection date should also call for special consideration.
After the collections are completed and the numbers are figured out, stipend checks will be mailed to organizations around the middle of May. Call the Knox County Commissioners to register, or visit the office in the Knox County Service Center, 117 E. High St., Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Organizations wishing to participate must be registered by April 29.
